Electrical railway-signal



w s WNQ W (No Model) .supported a signal lantern 3, at one side of nalarm or shaft 5, and said signal arm is UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. ELECTRICAL RAI LWAY-SIG NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,758, dated August21, 1894.

Application filed April 17, 1894. v

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE DORNBER GER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Highland Falls; in the county of Orange and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Electrical Railway-Signal, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical railway signals; and it has for itsobject to effect certain improvements in apparatus of this characterwhereby a signal arm may be automati cally operated by the movement ofpassing trains to indicate safety or danger in the customary manner.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is toprovide new and useful mechanical means operated by the passing trainsclosing the electric circuit, in any suitable manner to shift theposition of the signal arm to give the proper signal.

With these and other objects in View which will readily appear as thenature of the in-' vention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:.-Figure 1 is a perspective view of anelectrically controlled signal constructed in accordance with thisinvention mounted in operative position and showing the two positionsofthe signal arm. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gear controllingdevices of the signal operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse sectional view on the line ad-0a of Fig. 2.1 Fig. 4 is asimilar view on the line yy ofv Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail inperspective of the weighted trip lever. Fig. 6 is a similar view of thespring-drawn catch pawl orarm.

Referringto the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a signal pole ortower that is adapted to be arranged alongside of a railway track in theusual position where it is customary to exhibit signals, and on theupper end of said signal pole is supported the signal box 2, in front ofwhich is adapted to be which is "arranged to work the signal arm 4. Thesignal arm 4, works outside of the signal box 2, and is mounted on oneend of the sigprovided with a weighted lens end 6, at the Serial No.507,917. (No model.)

outer extremity of which is mounted the colored lens 7, that is adaptedto be aligned with the lantern 3, when the danger signal is given, andis adapted to be raised above the lantern when the arm is set 'to give asafety signal. The weight lens end 6, is disposed at an angle to theother end portion of the arm which forms a signal board 8, designed tobe painted with the usual color so as to give the same signal in the daytime that is given at night by the lens 7, and said lens end 6, issufiiciently heavy to normally elevate the signal board end 8, to ahorizontal signal position and to bring the lens 7, opposite thelantern, and in this normal position the said weighted lens end 6, isadapted to rest on the stop 9, secured to one side of the signal box 2,below the signal arm. y

The arm shaft 5, extends through the signal box 2, and is journaledtransversely within the mechanism frame 10, arranged inside of thesignal box 2, and said signal shaft 5, has

attached thereto within the frame 10, the OE- standing rock arm 11, towhich is adj ustably connected one end. of the link arm 12, the otherend of which is adj ustably and pivotally connected to the upper end ofthe oscillating lever 13. The oscillating lever 13, is pivoted at apoint intermediate of its ends 14, to the inner side of the frame 10 andcarries at its lower end the contact roller 15, that is adapted toengage at one side of the operating cam 16, mounted on the transversecam shaft 17, that is journaled in the frame 10 and projects beyond oneside thereof.

The operating cam 16 is provided with a rounded cam side 17 and thestraight or flat side 18, so that when the shaft 17. moves in onedirection the rounded side of the cam moves the lower end of theoscillating lever 13 in a direction that causes the arm shaft 5, to rockand elevate the lens end of the signal arm to a safety position, butwhen the cam reaches a position in which the straight or fiat sidethereof is disposed at one side of the lower end of the lever 13, saidlever will assume a substantially vertical position so as to allow thesignal arm to automatically lower to the danger position, owing to theweight of the lens end 6.

The transverse cam shaftl7, has mounted thereon within the frame 10, agear wheel 19,

that meshes with a drive spur wheel 20, mounted on the lower weightshaft 21, journaled transverselyin the frame 10, below the shaft 17, andprovided at a point alongside of the wheel 20, with a pawl and ratchetdevice 22 to admit of the winding of the said above this catch pin orstud 44, with a catch dog-4'5. The catch dog 45, is pivoted at one endas at 46, to the weighted end of the trip lever and is provided at itsother free end with a catch shoulder 47, and a stop flange 48, thelatter of which is normally held on the shaft when necessary, andmounted on the shaft 21, at a convenient point is a sprocket or chainwheel 23, over which passes the upper portion of the endless weightchain 24, to which is attached the operating weight 25, that is adaptedto lower from the upper to the lower portion of said chain to providemeans for turning the shaft 21 at the proper time, and said weight afterhaving been lowered is easily raised again by means of winding up theshaft 21, and these means substantially complete the mechanism that isemployed for communicating motion to the gearing for op- 7 erating thesignal arm 4.

A stop wheel 26, is mounted on one end of the cam shaft 17, at one sideof the frame 10, and said stop wheelis provided on its inner side withregularly spaced stop pins 27, and

upon its outer side with similarly spaced strike pins 28, the inner pins27 being adapted to engage against the catch shoulder 29,

formed at an intermediate point in one'side of the catch pawl or lever30. The catch pawl or lever 30, is pivoted at its lower end at 31 to oneside of the frame 10, and isnor mally held in position for engagement bythe pins 27, by means of the retractile spring 32, connected at one endto the said catch pawl and at its other end to a fixed point of atitsupper end with the'off-standing tiip arm 34, having an outer rounded end35, that is adapted to be struck or engaged by the inner triptoot 3b,termed at one side of a b1turca-' tion at the lower end of the weightedtrip le-.

ver 38, which is provided at the outside of the bifurcation in its lowerend with an outer strike foot 39, that is somewhat longer than the foot36, and is provided with a metal wear plate 40, at one side, adapted tobe struck by the outer strike pins 28, of the stop wheel 26, for thepurpose of readjusting the trip lever 38, as will be more particularlyreferred to. The weighted trip lever 38, is provided with an upperweighted end 41, that normally tends to move the lower end of the levertoward the catch pawl 30, and said weighted lever is pivotally mountedat a point at one side of its center on the pivot pin or bolt 42,arranged in the outer end of the off-standing pivot bracket 43, securedto one side of the frame 10. The weighted trip lever 38, is provided atits upper weighted end with an" offstanding catch pin or stud 44, andimmediately stop pm 49 by the tension of the spring 50, connected to thepivoted end of said dog and to the said trip lever.

Arranged to play between the shouldered catch end of the dog 45, and thecatch pin 44 is one end of the armature lever 51; The armature lever 51,is pivotally supported near one end-between the oppositely disposedpivot,

screws or pins 52, that are arranged to work through the lugs 53, atopposite ends of the pivot bracket 54, that is supported in a horizontalposition at one side of the frame 10, by the flanged supportingbracket-55, attached to one side of the frame 10. The said armaturelever 51, is provided at the extremity of its long arm with a doubleshouldered head 56, that is adapted to engage at different times thecatch pin 44, and the dog 45, and at the extremity of its short arm, thesaid armature lever is provided with the armature plate 57,

I that is arranged to work over the upper end of the core of theelectro-magnet 58, supported at one side of the frame 10,in position, bythe magnet supporting bracket 59,-attached to said frame, and the magnetwires 60, are connected to the binding posts'61, to which binding posts61, are adapted tobe connected the circuit wires of any suitable trackcircuit closer such as is commonly employed in connection with railways,and which are-adapted to be operated by the wheels of a passing train.By this means a passing train-will close the circuit through the magnet58, so as to attract one end of the armature lever and thereby set thegearing in motion for adjusting the position of the signal arm.

Normally when the circuit is not closed through the magnet 58, thearmature 51 is held down in normal engagement with the catch pin 44, ofthe lever 38 by the spring 62 and in this position of the parts, th'ecam16, is disposed in a position that permits the signal arm 4, to assumeits normal danger position with the weighted lens end 6, lowered.Immediately upon the closing of the circuit through the magnet58 by apassing train, the armature plate 57, is attracted and lifts up thearmature lever 51 out of engagement with the catch pin 44 of theweighted trip lever 38. The weighted trip lever in response to theweight at its upper end tilts and throws the lower trip foot 36, thereofagainst one end of the trip arm 34, of the catch pawl or lever 30. Thismovement disengages the shoulder 29, of the catch pawl or lever from theinner stop pin 27, in engagement therewith, and thereby releases thewheel 26, so that the cam shaft 17, will be free to turn .in response tothe pull of the weight 25, and the camv 1-6, is thereby carried aroundagainst the lower end of the oscillating lever 13, and rocks the shaftIIO nal arm in its safety position.

5, so as to lift the signal arm to a safety position. In the meantimethe pawl or lever 30, has assumed its normal position and the shoulderthereof has been engaged by another stop pin which checks the furthermovement of the gearing and serves to lock the sig- Immediately afterthe weighted trip lever'38, has fallen to effect the operationdescribed, the outer strike foot 39, thereof, has been engaged by one ofthe outer strike pins 28 of the stopwheel,which causes the said lever tobe thrown back to an upright position and causes the spring-actuatedcatch dog 45,to engage with the upper part of the shouldered head 56 ofthe armature lever 51.

The parts of the apparatus remain in the position noted with the magnetenergized until the circuit is opened through the magnet which allowsthe armature lever to fall and again release the stop wheel which allowsthe gearing to carry the cam to a position so that the signal arm,yielding to the weighted end thereof, will normally assume its dangerposition. In this operation the weighted trifi lever 38, is thrownupward to bring the lower catch pin 44, thereof into engagement with theshouldered head of the unattracted armature lever.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railway signal of the class described, the frame, weightactuated gearing mounted within said frame and one of the shafts ofwhich is provided with an operating cam, having a rounded and a flatside, a rock or arm shaft journaled in said frame and carrying a signalarm at one end, an oscillating lever arranged in the frame and providedat its lower end with a contact roller engaged by said cam, a link armadj ustably connected to the upper end of said oscillating lever and tothe rock or arm shaft, and electrically operated gear controllingdevices mounted at one side of the frame and connected with saidgearing, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railway signal of the class described, the frame, a rock or armshaft journaled in said frame and carrying a signal arm at one end andprovided with an off-standing rock arm, a vibratinglever mounted withinsaid frame and carrying a contact roller at its lower end, a link armpivotally and adjustably connected to the upper end of said lever and tosaid rock arm, a cam-shaft carrying a gear wheel, an operating cammounted on said cam shaft and provided with a rounded and a straight orfiat side to engage with said contact roller, a weight shaft carrying adrive spur wheel meshing with the gear Wheel of the cam shaft, and asprocket or chain wheel, an endless weight chain arranged on saidsprocket or chain wheel and carrying a weight, and electrically operatedgear controlling devices for the gearing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway signal, the combination with the signal arm; ofautomatically operated gear devices connected with said signal arm foradjusting the same, a stop wheel mounted on one of the shafts of thegearing, a catch pawl for said stop wheel, a trip lever to disengagesaid pawl from the stop wheel, and an electrically controlled catch forsaid trip lever, substantially as set forth.

4. In a railway signal of the class described, the combination with aweighted signal arm; of Weight-actuated gearing connected with thesignal arm for adjusting the same, a stop wheel mounted on one of theshafts of the gearing, a spring actuated catch pawl for said stop wheel,a weighted trip lever having catch devices and adapted to engage withsaid catch pawl to trip the same, an electro magnet, and a springretracted armature lever pivotally supported with one end playing overthe electro magnet and adapted to have its other end engaged with thecatch devices of said trip lever, substantially as set forth.

5. In a railway signal, the combination with a weighted signal arm; ofweight-actuated gearing connected with the signal arm for adjusting thesame, a stop wheel mounted on one of the shafts of the gearing andprovided with a series of inner spaced stop pins and outer spaced strikepins, a spring retracted catch pawl having a shoulder for engagementwith said stop pins and provided'at its upper end with an off-standingtrip arm, a weighted trip lever pivotally supportedabove the stop wheeland provided with a lower bifurcated end having an inner trip foot forengagement with the trip arm of the catch pawl, and an outer strike footadapted to be engaged by the strike pins of the stop wheel, saidweighted trip lever being provided at its upper end with a catch pin anda reversely disposed spring actuated catch dog above the pin, a suitablyarranged electro magnet, and a spring retracted armature lever pivotallysupported and provided at one end with an armature plate arranged toplay over the electro magnet, and at its other end with a shoulderedhead adapted to engage in difierent positions the catch pin and catchdog of the weighted trip lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE DORNBERGER.

Witnesses:

JOHN I. MONAGHAN, DANIEL F. MEsKIL.

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